The 83 300D is acting up a bit. Sometimes after glowing when I turn the key, nothing happens (like if you try to start it in gear). I then give the shift lever a little shove toward park and it starts right up.

I'm assuming there is a start safety switch that keeps the car from starting in any gear but park or neutral. If so, it sounds like mine might be going bad or need adjusting (since when I push the lever harder toward park the car starts fine)

That said, can anyone tell me where the switch is located, if it can be adjusted, and if there is an easy way to do it.

Thanks,

Glenn:

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)

No adjustments that I know of. Sometimes replacing shifter bushings will solve the problem. Search on NSS. (neutral safety switch). Lots of threads.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The length of the shifter rod is adjustable. But I would investigate the condition of the shifter bushings first.

I drove my w116 SD for about five years that way. But in my case it was because I had installed a w108 chrome shifter bezel, which didn't quite work properly in a 116.

Don't worry much about it. As the other poster indicated, it's time for shifter bushings but unless one is split it shouldn't become an issue too quickly.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22